Bhutan

Kingdom of Bhutan

monarchyIndependence 8 August 1949 (from India)

Bhutan as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 107 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalThimphu

Position27 30 N, 90 30 E

Area47,000 sq km

LocationSouthern Asia, between China and India

Populationas each edition published it

2.01 million July 2000 est. · 1.57m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.19% 2000 est. · 2.33% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 20.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

52.4 years 2000 est. · 50.17 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.13 children per woman 2000 est. · 5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

110.99 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 137 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,060 1999 est. · $200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

7% 1999 est. · 3.1% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Under British influence a monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later a treaty was signed whereby the country became a British protectorate. Independence was attained in 1949, with India subsequently guiding foreign relations and supplying aid.

Geography

Southern Asia, between China and India

18 fields

Land useshare of 47,000 sq km

arable land 2%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 6%forests and woodland 66%other 26% (1993 est.)irrigated 340 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

47,000sq km

land: 47,000 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmabout half the size of Indiana

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Highest point

7,553m

Kula Kangrilowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m

Land boundaries

1,075km

border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km

Location

Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates

27 30 N, 90 30 E

Map references

Asia

Climate

varies;
tropical in southern plains;
cool winters and hot summers in central valleys;
severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

Terrain

mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide

Natural hazards

violent storms coming down from the Himalayas are the source of the country's name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon;
frequent landslides during the rainy season

Environment - current issues

soil erosion; limited access to potable water

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified:: Law of the Sea

Geography - note

landlocked;
strategic location between China and India;
controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

People

16 fields

Population

2,005,222

note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2000 est.)growth rate: 2.19% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

36.22Death

14.32Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)52.4

52.79 · 51.99

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)42.2%

56.2% · 28.1%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

Bhote 50%ethnic Nepalese 35%indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 40% (male 417,627; female 387,927)
15-64 years:: 56% (male 576,533; female 544,076)
65 years and over:: 4% (male 40,081; female 38,978) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.07 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

110.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.13 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
adjective:: Bhutanese

Religions

Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%

Languages

Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

People - note

refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of approximately 96,500 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps

Government

Monarchy; King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972); Foreign Minister Jigme Yoeser THINLEY (since NA June 1998)

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Country name

conventional long form:: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form:: Bhutan

Data code

Government type

monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

Capital

Thimphu

Administrative divisions

18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural);
Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang

Independence

8 August 1949 (from India)

National holiday

National Day, 17 December (1907) (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king)

Constitution

no written constitution or bill of rights note: Bhutan uses 1953 Royal decree for the Constitution of the National Assembly; on 7 July 1998, a Royal edict was ratified giving the National Assembly additional powers

Legal system

based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

each family has one vote in village-level elections

Executive branch

chief of state:: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)
head of government:: Foreign Minister Jigme Yoeser THINLEY (since NA June 1998)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the monarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed, five-year terms

note: there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch

elections:: none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms in July 1998 give the National Assembly authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds vote

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 elected from village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35 are designated by the monarch to represent government and other secular interests; members serve three-year terms)

elections:: last held NA (next to be held NA)
election results:: NA

Judicial branch

the Supreme Court of Appeal is the monarch; High Court, judges appointed by the monarch

Political parties and leaders

no legal parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

Buddhist clergy;
ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign;
Indian merchant community;
United Front for Democracy (exiled)

International organization participation

AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO

Diplomatic representation in the US

none;
note - Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN;
address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017;
telephone [1] (212) 826-1919;
the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US

consulate(s) general:: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India)

Flag description

divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner;
the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange;
centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side

Economy

31 fields

Real growth rate

(1999 est.)industrial production growth: 9.3% (1996 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

(1998)

Debt - external

$120million

(1998)

GDP - composition by sector(1998)

agriculture 38%industry 37%services 25% (1998)

Budget

Revenues

$146 millionExpenditures

$152 million

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 est.) note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures

Electricity

fossil fuel 0.39%hydro 99.61%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

1.788 billion (1998)Electricity consumption

345 million (1998)Electricity exports

1.339 billionElectricity imports

21 million (1998)

Economy - overview

The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for 90% of the population and account for about 40% of GDP. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive.

The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links. The industrial sector is technologically backward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are key resources.

The Bhutanese Government has made some progress in expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare. Model education, social, and environment programs in Bhutan are underway with support from multilateral development organizations. Each economic program takes into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions.

Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.

ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 43.552 (January 2000), 43.055 (1999), 41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997), 35.433 (1996), 32.427 (1995);
note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Communications

8 fields

Fixed lines

5,000

(1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Telephone system

domestic:: domestic telephone service is very poor with few telephones in use
international:: international telephone and telegraph service is by landline through India; a satellite earth station was planned (1990)